The Murphy windmill rises above the soccer field at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. The Recreation and Park Department is proposing a major renovation at the field which includes replacing the natural grass with synthetic turf. less

The Murphy windmill rises above the soccer field at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. The Recreation and Park Department is proposing a major renovation at the field which ... more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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San Francisco Day School eighth grade soccer team practicing at the Golden Gate Park soccer field at Beach Chalet in San Francisco, Ca., on Wednesday, February 3, 2010. The turf will soon be replaced with articficial turf and lights. less

San Francisco Day School eighth grade soccer team practicing at the Golden Gate Park soccer field at Beach Chalet in San Francisco, Ca., on Wednesday, February 3, 2010. The turf will soon be replaced with ... more

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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SF soccer field project wins panel's OK

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To the dismay of local environmentalists, the California Coastal Commission on Thursday gave San Francisco the go-ahead to replace the dilapidated grass soccer fields at Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park with artificial turf fields lit for nighttime play.

The commission's decision to reject its staff report and dismiss the challenge to the city's $14 million plan came after more than five hours of impassioned testimony and discussion.

For the city, the final vote was vindication for the years-long planning process that had been approved by a variety of San Francisco boards and commissions. "We're very pleased with the result," said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the city's Recreation and Park Department. "This is a win for the kids."

But the decision came as a shock to environmentalists, particularly since the commission's staff report earlier this month called for a ban on artificial turf, high-intensity field lights and bleachers at Beach Chalet, which has been used for soccer and other sports since the 1930s.

"I'm at a loss for words," Katherine Howard of SF Ocean Edge, one of the environmental groups that appealed the city plan, said after the final vote. "I'm shocked that the Coastal Commission would decide not to protect the coast and Golden Gate Park."

The dispute pitted environmental groups concerned about the effect artificial turf and field lights would have on the coast, local wildlife and the "naturalistic landscape" of the western end of Golden Gate Park against city officials, parents and soccer and lacrosse players and coaches who argued that San Francisco desperately needs the improvements at Beach Chalet, which will triple the amount of playing time available at the site.

Without lights to extend the playing day and artificial turf to replace the soggy, battered grass fields, there's no way to meet the growing demand for youth and adult soccer leagues, they said.

Despite its beauty and importance to the city, "Golden Gate Park is not an archaeological relic," Supervisor Scott Wiener told the commission. "I urge you to reject the appeal."

While the final vote was unanimous, the commission had plenty of concerns.

"The lack of soccer fields isn't an issue for the commission, it's whatever meets the coastal rules set by the state," said Commissioner Steve Blank, who opposed the city plan but was not present for the final vote. "Our review is based on the needs of 38 million Californians, not just those in San Francisco."

But other members, many of them elected officials from coastal communities, argued that active recreation is an appropriate use for coastal property and suggested that the commission's staff had overstepped by challenging the city plan.

The staff report calling for major changes in the Beach Chalet project "was all done in disregard of local government review," said Commissioner Steve Kinsey, a Marin County supervisor. "The staff has taken what I would call an arrogant position that the city can't determine what 'naturalistic' is."

In response to commission concerns, the city agreed to monitor the effect the new lights have on local birds and those migrating through the area, as well as checking for any effects runoff from the turf fields have on water quality.

The city now plans to put the Beach Chalet project out for bid by the end of the year, with the 10- to 12-month project breaking ground in 2014.